National homelessness charity Crisis is collaborating with the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) to trial a new in-store recycling scheme to reduce textile waste.
The trial, which forms part of the ACT project led by UKFT, is currently taking place in the charity’s Peckham and Elephant & Castle stores in London until September.
It aims to support customers to better recycle their clothes and create more sustainable solutions to fabric waste.
Crisis said that customers are often unaware of which textile items they are donating would be classed as “wearable” and “unwearable”. The charity this leads to high volumes of clothes being donated that cannot be resold, due to being ripped or having shrunk, for example.
The new scheme aims to tackle this issue by educating shoppers on the difference between wearable and unwearable clothing and encourage customers to sort their donations when they come into the store.
Customers will then also be able to take away resources so they can pre-sort their items before making donations in future, Crisis said.
Pre-sorting clothes will allow our customers to cut down on waste while supporting our goal of ending homelessness for good.
It’s estimated that homes across the UK contain over 1.6 billion items of unworn clothing, many of which have the potential to be used, re-used or recycled, according to a study by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).
Through trialling the sorting scheme with UKFT, Crisis said it hopes to close the loop and see more fabrics being recycled and repurposed.
Paula Floyd, E-Commerce Manager, and leading on the project at Crisis, said: “Homelessness is at record levels. That’s why it’s so important that our Shop from Crisis stores can do everything they can to help create a future free from homelessness.
“Clothing waste is a real problem, both in terms of its environmental impact and the value of the clothes lost. Pre-sorting clothes will allow our customers to cut down on waste while supporting our goal of ending homelessness for good.
“Working collaboratively means that it is easier to find innovative solutions in the fashion and textile industry. This is why being part of the ACT Take-Back project, with the support of UKFT, can be a key step to changing consumer’s mindsets, and make it easier to recycle.”
